2018 Vancouver > Vancouver

Awe-inspiring

Today we use the word ‘awesome’ to convey things that are often quite ordinary. That’s why, in describing Canada and Alaska, from soaring mountains to striking glaciers and floating icebergs, we simply have to use words like ‘wondrous’ or ‘awe-inspiring’.

There’s simply no other way to convey the wonders of a region that is home to both the magnificent Icefield’s Parkway and Inside Passage. It’s a region that harbours the grizzly bear, perhaps planet Earth’s greatest predator, as well as the mild-mannered moose. On one extreme you can look forward to the charming English-influenced Victoria, on the other there are towns so remote that they can only be accessed by air or sea. This itinerary showcases all that and more – beautiful scenery, fascinating towns, a friendly and inviting culture, and glorious national parks. It’s so much more than just ‘awesome’.

21 Day Itinerary

Day 1 -
Vancouver

Highlights:

Welcome dinner

Welcome to Vancouver. Your journey of wonder begins with an exclusive two night stay at the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver. Your luxury hotel is perfectly situated in the heart of downtown Vancouver, with culture, restaurants and world-class shopping right at your doorstep, plus you can take advantage of the added bonus of the Scenic office downstairs, with our staff ready to welcome you and assist with anything you may require. Celebrate tonight with a welcome dinner and toast to the wonderful adventure awaiting you and your fellow travellers. Please book flight to arrive prior to 5pm.

Meals included: Dinner

Day 2 -
Vancouver

Highlights:

Capilano Suspension Bridge

Enrich

The best time to be at one with nature is before the crowds arrive. Absorb the tranquillity as you are the first to wander amongst the glistening morning dew of the rainforest, with exclusive early entrance to Capilano Suspension Bridge Park. If the bridge doesn’t amaze you, the cliffwalk and flora will.

This afternoon, discover the many and varied sights, tastes and sounds of cosmopolitan Vancouver on a city sightseeing tour.

Meals included: Breakfast

Day 3 -
Rocky Mountaineer > Kamloops

Highlights:

Rocky Mountaineer GoldLeaf Service

All aboard! The Rocky Mountaineer is one of the most iconic rail journeys in the world, and you’ll enjoy two days of romantic rail travel through the Rocky Mountains with incredible GoldLeaf Service, sure to be an absolute highlight of your trip. Rocky Mountaineer is renowned for the delicious cuisine made for you on board, so you can enjoy the ultimate treat for the senses as you travel through the Rocky Mountains in luxurious comfort, gazing in awe at your surrounds through the dome glass windows and savouring delectable delights in the company of your newfound friends. Overnight, stay at a Kamloops hotel as assigned by Rocky Mountaineer.

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 4 -
Rocky Mountaineer > Jasper

Highlights:

Rocky Mountaineer GoldLeaf Service

Enjoy another day in luxurious comfort on board the Rocky Mountaineer. Feel your awe and excitement peak as you carve through otherwise inaccessible terrain into the Canadian Rockies. Sip on local BC wines and beers as you soak up the magnificent scenery stretching as far as the eye can see. Take advantage of the full dome windows as the majestic Mount Robson, the highest peak in the Canadian Rockies, towers above you, and charming Moose Lake glistens alongside you. If you are very lucky, you may even catch a glimpse of the lakes namesake animal on its shore. Later, you’ll be delivered to the picturesque Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge, your home for the next two nights, situated on the banks of Lac Beauvert. Be sure to keep an eye out for wildlife such as bears, elk or caribou.

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 5 -
Jasper:

Highlights:

Scenic Freechoice

Freechoice

Choose your level of adventure in the ultimate outdoor playground. Don your leathers and hit the open road on a Harley Davidson™ sidecar tour, or get amongst nature on a guided hike. You may prefer an aquatic adventure on an interpretive cruise, in a voyageur canoe or rafting down the Athabasca River. Alternatively, take a scenic drive around Jaspers’ stunning lakes, or rise above it all and take in the magnificent views on the Jasper Skytram.

Freechoice Dining

Dine at a fine restaurant of your choice.

Meals included: Breakfast, Dinner

Day 6 -
Icefields Parkway > Banff

Highlights:

‘Ice Explorer’

Drive along one of the most famous roads in the world, the Icefields Parkway. Take an ‘Ice Explorer’ on to the Athabasca Glacier, and perhaps even indulge your inner child with a snowball fight. Small town charm nestled in stunning mountain scenery greets you in Banff. Settle into your iconic Special Stay for two nights at the Fairmont Banff Springs in a view room, and relish the unique blend of opulence and isolation. Few hotels in the world can rival the majesty, hospitality and scenery of Canada’s iconic ‘Castle in the Rockies’.

Freechoice Dining

Choose from a range of restaurants this evening.

Meals included: Breakfast, Dinner

Day 7 -
Banff

Highlights:

Rocky Mountain Round Up Scenic Freechoice

Freechoice

Take a helicopter flight over the Three Sisters Peaks, a Bow River float trip, rejuvenate in relaxing mineral pools or play nine holes of golf (selected dates). Nature lovers may be enticed to take a guided nature walk or head into the mountains by wagon for a cowboy cookout lunch.

Enrich

Tonight be treated to an exclusive ‘Rocky Mountain Round Up’ of superb food, entertainment and hospitality. Don your Stetson hat and cowboy boots, kick up your heels and make the most of a rollicking evening.

Meals included: Breakfast, Dinner

Day 8 -
Banff > Lake Louise

Highlights:

Enrich - Meet a Canadian Mountie, Freechoice Dining

Ride the Banff Gondola to experience jaw-dropping views. Later, reach the spectacular natural wonder of Lake Louise and the opulent Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise, where your Special Stay tonight is in a stunning lakeview room.

Freechoice Dining

Fine or more casual dining are among your options this evening.

Enrich

Meet a Canadian Mountie, wearer of the famous red serge. Delight in his colourful tales and take the opportunity to get a photograph.

Meals included: Breakfast, Dinner

Day 9 -
Lake Louise > Sun Peaks

Highlights:

Enrich - Voyageur presentation

Enrich

This evening, you’ll be educated on a little Canadian history, in the most enjoyable way possible, with See Canada’s history brought to life. Discover how life was lived by the voyageurs, pioneers, fur traders and early settlers centuries ago as they battled to establish settlements along Canada’s trading route during an exclusive presentation at your hotel. You’ll laugh, you’ll learn, you’ll be fascinated.

Sleep this evening in the quaint village of Sun Peaks at the Sun Peaks Grand Hotel, nestled against Tod Mountain.

Meals included: Breakfast, Dinner

Day 10 -
Sun Peaks > Whistler

Highlights:

Enrich - Black bear presentation, Freechoice Dining

Continue to the charming alpine village of Whistler.

Enrich

Lovable and cuddly or a ruthless hunter? Michael Allen, a leading researcher on black bears, gives an exclusive and fascinating lecture on this native Canadian.

Enjoy a two night Special Stay at the exclusive Fairmont Chateau Whistler located at the base of Blackcomb Mountain.

Cross the Georgia Strait by ferry. Others come to take photos of the Fairmont Empress, but you’ll get to stay there for an exclusive two night Special Stay. Your historic and charming hotel graces Victoria’s sparkling harbour, and now you get to add your own memories to its extensive and eclectic history.

Stroll through the pleasantly intoxicating Butchart Gardens, a real treat for the senses. Jennie Butchart set out to create beauty out of an abandoned quarry over a century ago and the gardens have been lovingly developed into the floral masterpiece you see today. If you rub Tacca, the Florentine bronze boar’s nose, it is said to bring you lots of luck.

Freechoice

Look out for orcas on a whale watching cruise by Zodiac or cruise boat. Alternatively choose to take a scenic floatplane flight, horse and carriage ride, indulge in afternoon tea at The Fairmont Empress, fish for salmon, or take a guided walking food tour.

Meals included: Breakfast, Dinner

Day 14 -
Vancouver > Alaskan Cruise

Highlights:

Board ms Nieuw Amsterdam

Join your Cruise Director for your luxurious seven night Alaskan voyage on board Holland America Line’s ms Nieuw Amsterdam. Keep an eye out for orcas, humpback whales or bald eagles from your verandah stateroom, and each evening, you’ll get to toast to the day’s adventures with included drinks with dinner.

Please be advised that shore excursions are an additional expense and can be purchased online prior to departure or onboard your cruise ship. It is recommended to book as early as possible through the cruise company’s’ Cruise Personaliser to ensure availability.

Meals included: Breakfast, Dinner

Day 15 -
Scenic Cruising

Highlights:

‘Welcome to the Seas’ lunch

Savour your celebratory ‘Welcome to the Seas’ lunch, then settle back and relax with a book or explore the ship’s facilities, restaurants and lounges.

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 16 -
Juneau

Highlights:

Alaska’s remote capital

Alaska’s charming state capital is the epitome of the rugged last frontier, only accessible by air or sea, so you can explore knowing you’ll never get lost.

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 17 -
Skagway

Highlights:

Klondike gold rush heritage

Take a stroll into the past. Historic shop facades, wooden boardwalks and echoes of the gold rush welcome you to Skagway, the gateway of the Klondike. Discover the remnants of its gold rush roots when prospectors came in droves to try their luck during the Klondike gold rush. For those who struck it lucky, the saloons of Skagway proved a popular way to ‘invest’ their fortunes back into the town.

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 18 -
Glacier Bay

Highlights:

Glacier and wildlife viewing

A steaming cup of soup or even hot chocolate will keep you warm as you are mesmerised by the dramatic ice walls and iceberg-strewn waters of Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve. Glacier Bay has more actively calving glaciers than anywhere in the world. Hold your breath as a monumental chunk of ice splits off a glacier and thunders into the sea, and capture the impact shooting water hundreds of feet in the air. Then, wait for it to happen all over again. A National Park Service Ranger will interpret the natural wonders and wildlife you may see.

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 19 -
Ketchikan

Highlights:

Salmon capital of the world

Alaska’s remote first city and last port of call is a treasury of Native American culture, home to the largest collection of Native totem poles in the world. Ketchikan is also known as the ‘salmon capital of the world’, so be sure to sample some fresh local fare while you’re in town.

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 20 -
Scenic Cruising

Highlights:

Cruising south

Today, you just get to enjoy your elegant cruise southwards. Celebrate the end of a spectacular journey at your farewell reception.

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 21 -
Vancouver

You’ll arrive in Vancouver today for your onward or homeward bound journey. Please book your flight to depart after 2pm. If your international flight departs after 5pm, take advantage of our hospitality lounge at the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver. We’ll be sad to see you leave, but we hope this taste of Canada and Alaska leaves you wanting more.